Geisinger Health System Lays off 400 Employees in Wilkes-Barre

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) - June 27, 2008 Steven Pierdon, chief medical officer of Geisinger Northeast, says same-day, urgent care and outpatient care services will continue at the South Wilkes-Barre facility. More advanced surgical services will be the focus of the Geisinger Wyoming Valley campus.

Both campuses will continue to maintain 24/7 emergency departments and critical care units.

Geisinger says it will try to assist the employees who will lose their jobs by September. Pierdon says laid-off workers will be given first priority to apply for 140 Geisinger openings in the area. If needed, workers will get outplacement services and severance packages.